Unconnected tales of Bottoms, Bond, and fraud

The latest updates on local electoral information are as follows.

Results

• Brighton and Hove: The byelection in Queen’s Park ward held on 24 September was won by Mark Strong. Green Party gain from Labour.
• Cotswold: The byelection in Blockley ward held on 24 September was won by Tom Bradley. Conservative gain from Green Party.
• Milton Keynes: The byelection in New Bradwell ward held on 24 September was won by Tracey Bailey. Labour hold.
• South Staffordshire: The byelection in Wombourne North ward held on 24 September was won by Elizabeth Keeling. Conservative hold.
• Tunbridge Wells: The byelection in Cranbrook, Sissinghurst and Frittenden ward held on 23 September was won by Harry Wormington. Liberal Democrat gain from Tunbridge Wells Alliance.
• Windsor and Maidenhead: The byelection in Bray ward held on 24 September was won by Clare Stuart-Adams. Conservative hold.

Defections

• Ashfield: Jason Zadrozny, who was elected for Ashfield Independents in Larwood ward, has left the party following his conviction, and is sitting as a non-aligned Independent councillor.
• Braintree: James Bond, who was elected for Halstead Residents’ Association in Halstead St Andrews ward, has left the association to sit as an Independent councillor.
• Chelmsford: Pete Davey, who was elected for the Liberal Democrats in Great Baddow East ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor. Meanwhile Ashley John, who was elected for the Conservatives in South Woodham Chetwood and Collingwood ward, has left his party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• Essex: Brad Thompson, who was elected for Reform UK in Clacton West and St Osyth division, has been suspended from the party and is sitting as an Independent county councillor.
• Hyndburn: Shabir Fazal, who was elected for the Green Party in Central ward, has formed the Progressive Hyndburn group, together with Sohail Asghar who was elected as an Independent in Spring Hill ward.
• Lancaster: Martin Bottoms, who was elected for Morecambe Bay Independents in Bare ward, has joined the Green Party.
• Lichfield: Matthew Wallens, who was elected for Reform UK in Curborough ward, has been suspended from the party and is sitting as an Independent councillor.
• Maldon: Richard Siddall, who was elected as an Independent in Great Totham ward and had been a member of the Maldon District Independent Group, has left the group to sit as an ungrouped Independent.
• North Lanarkshire: Beth Baudo, who was elected for Labour in Mossend and Holytown ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• Peterborough: Nicola Jenkins, who was elected for the Labour Party in Bretton ward but left the party in August 2025, has now joined the Green Party.
• Shropshire: Chris Naylor, who was elected for the Liberal Democrats in Burnell division but resigned the party whip in June, has now resumed it.
• Staffordshire: Matthew Wallens, who was elected for Reform UK in Lichfield City North division, has been suspended from the party and is sitting as an Independent county councillor.
• Tendring: Bradley Thompson, who was elected for Reform UK in West Clacton and Jaywick Sands ward, has been suspended from the party and is sitting as an ungrouped councillor. Meanwhile Daniel Land, who was elected for the Conservatives in Thorpe, Beaumont and Great Holland ward, has left the party to sit as an ungrouped councillor.
• West Oxfordshire: Phil Godfrey, who was elected for the Liberal Democrats in Carterton North West ward, has joined the Conservative Party.

New vacancies

• Dudley: St James’s ward, after the resignation of Reform UK councillor Ivor Robinson. Term ends 2030.
• Dumfries and Galloway: Annandale East and Eskdale ward, after the death of Labour councillor Archie Dryburgh. Term ends 2027.
• Flintshire: Mold Broncoed ward, after the death of Labour councillor Teresa Carberry. Term ends 2027.
• Runnymede: Englefield Green East ward, after the resignation of Independent councillor Andrea Berardi. Term ends when the council is abolished at the end of March 2027.

Dates for byelections

• Dudley: The byelection due in St James’s ward will be held on 29 October.
• Halton: The byelection due in Beechwood and Heath ward will be held on 29 October.

Other updates

• Ashfield: Council leader Jason Zadrozny has resigned following his conviction for fraud and tax evasion. He has left the Ashfield Independents which he founded; other members of the group continue to run the council.
• Gloucester: The full council voted to remove the council leader (a Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, but no new leader has been nominated and the council is therefore without a leadership for the time being.
• Neath Port Talbot: The council is currently without a leadership after the Independent leader of an Independent / Plaid Cymru coaltion resigned. It is uncertain if the coalition will continue.

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